Features & Interviews

Going into business for yourself is a bold move for most people. Those who have no previous experience in business ownership often find it hard to make the transition from being employees to running their very own company, enterprise, or service. For Sandra Toia-Wilson and her husband Paul Wilson, the transition almost fell into their laps. Today, they maintain a successful company called Ratclifff Mathews Real Estate but that was not always part of the couple’s plans.

Alternatives to Western medicinal practices have become increasingly popular in countries like Australia in the past couple of decades. Like every association reports, clinics and practitioners of alternative medicine are overwhelmingly positive in their growth and the general public is now far more accepting of such courses of treatment. A testament to this example is Dr. Saji George, an Ayurvedic Practitioner who has developed one of the most reputable alternative health clinics in Melbourne.

Handling the supply chain of any company, big or small, is a very challenging task. Most companies rely on others for all of their transport, supply chain, and logistics needs; although finding a reliable partner is not always easy. The Bulk Group, a privately owned family business, have been making a name for themselves over the past five years as one of the only supply chain solutions that can deal with consignments of any size or difficulty. Slowly but surely, the brand has become a trusted name in the business world of Australia in both domestic transports, 3PL warehousing and international imports and exports.

Originally established in 1957, Speedy Wheels has been serving the tyre and wheel industry of Australia in various capacities for a very long time. At the very beginning, the company was a one-man operation, founded and run by Mr. Keith Tonkin. The company, which was known as Speedy Wheel Repairs at the time, got its name from the 24-hour turnaround, steel wheel repair service it provided. Mr. Tonkin operated out of an old disused dairy shed in the Sydney suburb of Brighton and he continued to provide his repair services locally on his own for several years. Then, in 1964, the business started to grow and a second employee joined the work roster and in 1965, a third employee – Mr. Geoff Medbury, joined the company and would go on to be the Company’s longest serving employee.

When it comes to the supply chain and logistics of oil products, very few companies have the knowledge, infrastructure, and experience necessary to operate within the very strict guidelines of the industry. In New Zealand, the most trusted and popular name in the business is Silver Fern Shipping. The company, which has been a part of the ASP Ship Management Group since 2007, currently carries and distributes approximately 65 percent of the country’s oil products. That includes petroleum, diesel, bunker fuel, and more.

The Green Triangle is home to one of Australia’s largest commercial plantation forests, providing ample opportunities for local businesses in the forestry sector. Fennell Forestry, a family-owned business, has been in the game since 1991. Though it started small, it has since grown into a major plantation hardwood and softwood harvester and transporter. The company, which employs about 70 staff, is still largely managed by members of the Fennell family. Wendy Fennell, Managing Director at Fennell Forestry, has been a part of the business almost since its inception.

Even though they have existed for a very long time, conference and training centres are now more popular than ever. Today, clients can choose from a huge variety of venues which fit their specific purposes. Near Sydney’s Northern Beaches in the suburb of Ingleside, the Sydney Conference & Training Centre offers a dedicated residential venue located on 9 acres of secluded gardens which overlook the nearby ocean. Purpose-built to host all kinds of different events, the centre has been servicing various industries for decades.

More than two decades ago in the Cairns region, the Sisters of Mercy decided to turn a piece of land into a serviceable conference centre for the community. At the time, the educational community around the area was in need of a specialized venue. More specifically, the catholic schools of the area needed a place where they could conduct staff training and other similar initiatives. After some planning and preparation, the Seville Mercy Conference Centre was finally built.

Back in 2005, the Northside Community Church had an opportunity to redevelop its site located at Crow’s Nest. Instead of building a facility just for the Church, the visionary leadership team decided to develop a day meeting facility which could be used for the local community as well as the business sector in conjunction with the Church. The result of that project was the Northside Conference Centre facility, a 3-level venue with 8 rooms including a modern Auditorium which can accommodate up to 400 people.

Visitors to the Elizabeth Street Pier, one of Hobart’s most beautiful waterfront locations, will find a thriving business community where they can enjoy food and drink at a unique location. There, one will also find one of the region’s most popular venues, the Hobart Function and Conference Center (HFCC) which has been hosting weddings, gala dinners, conferences, product launches, meeting sessions, and thousands of other events since its inception in 1999.